Hand whistling is a technique of using the space between your palms to amplify your breath into a loud whistling sound. While the basics are easy, everyone's hands and lips are different, so a big part of this learning process is to tweak the following techniques a little so you can do them.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Whistling with Hands
Step 1. Cup your left hand as if you want to use it to drink water
If your fingers are close enough to hold water, they are also tight enough to hold air. You have to prevent air from escaping your hands in order to make a whistling sound.
Step 2. Rotate your hand 90° to the right as if pouring water
The joint of your left thumb should rest on your left index finger -- just behind its middle joint -- and cup your hands to your right, forming a "C" shape.
Step 3. Bend your right hand slightly as if to shake someone's hand
Your fingers should be close to each other and slightly bent. Your thumb will be on top of your index finger.
Step 4. Cup your right hand around your left to create a golf ball-sized space in your hands
You should form an airtight space between your hands. To do so:
- Place your left index and middle finger in the space between the thumb and fingers of your right hand.
- Your palms should be pressed together to seal the back of your hand.
- The fingers of your right hand should be placed on top of the fingers of your left hand.
Step 5. Touch your thumbs together until there is a small opening between the bottom knuckles
You should make a small round hole -- about 2-3 cm long and cm wide -- in the shape of a small squinting eye.
Step 6. Pursue your lips as if you were making an "ooo" sound
Your lips will pucker outward, but slightly closer to each other. Imagine you're shouting "booo" to someone on stage.
Step 7. Place your lips over the opening of your thumb at a 45° angle
This part usually takes quite a bit of practice. Your thumbs should be pointing outward, slightly away from your lips with a small part of the opening near your chin so that air can escape and produce a whistling sound. Your upper lip will be near your thumb nail.
Step 8. Blow evenly into the hole
Imagine that you are trying to blow out many candles at the same time. Don't spit out, blow too fast, or blow too slowly. If you did everything right, you will hear a clear whistling sound coming out of your hand.
Method 2 of 2: Troubleshooting
Step 1. Make sure your hands are cupped together
As you blow air into your hands, you will feel the air pushing your hands apart due to the increased pressure. If you don't feel it, it means the air is leaking somewhere.
Inhale deeply and then exhale slowly and evenly into your hands. Usually you will be out of breath within 10 to 12 seconds
Step 2. Reduce the space between your thumbs
If your hands are too far apart you will hear a deep, low exhalation sound as you breathe in, almost like the sound of Dart Vader breathing. You'll hear a low, high-pitched "wuuuss" sound even if you don't hear a whistling sound. Then move your two thumbs closer to each other to improve your voice.
Step 3. Adjust the position of your mouth
As you blow, slowly turn your hand up and down. Many people put their mouths against the openings. You should have a small open space under your lower lip and your upper lip should close the hole you made between your thumbs.
Step 4. Change the pitch of the whistle by blowing harder and opening your hand slightly
You can always change the pitch you're trying to whistle. It all depends on how hard you blow and how tightly the back of your cave-hand is closed. If your palms are slightly open, you'll hear a higher pitched sound than when your hands are tightly closed. The more you open your hand, the higher the sound.
Of course there is a limit to this, as opening your arms too wide will not produce any whistling sound at all
Tips
- Try to really find your mainstay point. Move your mouth until you find the right spot.
- Try to blow it down into your hand.
- Keep the knuckles of your thumbs together tightly.
- When blowing into the small opening between your thumbs, make sure there is also room for air to escape from your closed palm.
